Schumacher and Giovinazzi will fill Ferrari’s reserve role in 2022

Mick Schumacher may have to drive a Ferrari Formula 1 car in 2022 when team leader Mattia Binotto revealed that the Haas race driver will share a spare role with Ferrari Driver Academy rider Antonio Giovinazzi…

Giovinazzi was left without a drive when Alfa Romeo decided to replace him with Zhou Guanyu next season after a campaign with three teams and later announced he would compete full-time in Formula E next year.

READ MORE: Alfa Romeo confirms Giovinazzi will leave the team at the end of the season when an Italian announces a Formula E change

However, he wanted to stay in F1 to try to find a place to race in 2023 – and will do so by extending his Ferrari relationship for a fifth year.

Speaking to selected media at Ferrari’s annual Christmas event, team manager Binotto said Giovinazzi will take part in 12 races and fill the reserve role, and Schumacher – who will be competing for another through Haas – will be available for the remaining 11.

If Ferrari were to call Schumacher, Haas would drive a spare-Pietro Fittipaldi alongside Nikita Mazepin. Binotto added that Giovinazzi will be available to Ferrari customers Haas and Alfa Romeo if needed.

Explaining the reasons why Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael, was given the role of reserve, Binotto said: “He is a Ferrari driver, we must not forget that. He has been part of our Ferrari Driver Academy. The reason we have a Ferrari Driver Academy is to find the following Ferrari driver for the future.

“If you can be a part of it, you can no doubt have opportunities. He has already played one season in F1, which is important. Mick did well throughout the season, improving himself not only in consistency but also in speed.

READ MORE: Why Alfa Romeo chose Zhou, how the deal came about – and who else competed for the spot

“If you look at the last races, he was much closer to the cars above, and Haas didn’t develop a car at all. The fact that he was closer showed that he improved his speed very well.

– He will drive the cars of 2022 next year, they are much different from their current driving style. It is important to have one driver who knows that cars are up for grabs.

“I can still trust Antonio because he’s a good driver, he’s proven to be a good driver. Antonio has a complete simulator program to get him moving on the 2022 driving style.

Ferrari’s engineers will continue to support Schumacher in 2022, and Ferrari will also provide him with a simulator that has been significantly updated.

Giovinazzi has said he wants to return to the F1 series, and Binotto believes continuing with Ferrari will help achieve that goal – especially as the formula changes dramatically next year.

“With Antonio, he can no doubt have a better chance of finding a place [in 2023], ”he said.

“That’s why I think it’s important that he continues to be part of our F1 program as a reserve, continues to run activities in the simulator, and keeps him up to date on the 2022 cars.”